Full Takeover Bid for Manchester United Expected Within Days

Manchester United can reportedly expect a full takeover bid from Qatari investors in the coming days.

The money will reportedly come from individual investors, as the group is separate from Qatar Sports Investments, which was reported last month to be considering a full or partial takeover. 

• QSI already owns Paris Saint-Germain, and European soccer governing body UEFA has strict rules against owning multiple clubs.
• The group set to bid is only interested in a full takeover.

A full takeover wouldn’t be cheap, as the Glazer family — who purchased Manchester United in 2005 for roughly $942 million — is reportedly looking for at least $7.2 billion. Forbes last valued the club at $4.6 billion.

“There are significant funds available,” according to a Daily Mail report. “These people are serious. They want to make sure that United are where they should be, and they are confident theirs will be the strongest bid.”

Qatar’s Competition

Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe — one of Britain’s richest people and a longtime Manchester United fan — and his chemical company INEOS were the first to announce they had entered the process for a club takeover.

The sale has reportedly intrigued groups from the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., as well.

Any takeover would need approval from the Premier League.